SEMIRAMIDE " Semiramide " is a tragic opera in two acts, the text by Rossi, and the music by Gioachino Antonio Rossini. It is founded on Voltaire's tragedy " Semiramis." It was first presented at the Fenice Theatre, Venice, Feb. 3, 1823.
Semiramis, Queen of Babylon.
Arsaces, commander in the Assyrian army, afterward Ninius and heir to the throne.
The Ghost of Ninus.
Oroe, chief of the Magi.
Assur, a Prince of the Blood Royal.
Azema, Princess of the Blood Royal.
Idrenus, Mitranes, and others of the royal household. Magi, guards, satraps, slaves.
The scene of the story is laid in Babylon. Ninus, the king, has been murdered by his wife, Semiramis, aided by Assur, who is inspired by an ambition for the throne. The opera opens in the temple of Belus during a solemn festival, which is of unusual significance from the fact that Semiramis has announced her intention to nominate a successor to the throne. Arsaces, a young Sythian (as it is supposed), has just come back from war crowned with victory and the Queen becomes secretly infatuated with him. It is on this youth that she has resolved to confer the great gift within her power, although Assur confidently expects that he him self will be chosen. While the ceremonies are in progress, a violent storm arises, the temple is shaken to its base and the sacred fire extinguished upon the altars, the people looking upon this as an evil omen.
Arsaces, who has been despatched to bring an answer from the Oracle, arrives. He bears a casket containing a scroll which points to the fact that the late king was mur dered. The Queen, when the agitation arising from this has subsided, announces that he who is chosen king shall also be her husband and thereupon names Arsaces. This news is received with horror by at least four persons. One of these is the young man upon whom the choice falls, for he loves and is beloved by Azema, a royal princess; another is the Princess herself, who sees the Queen's decree ruin her hope of happiness; another is Assur, who also has aspired to Azema's hand and thought to gain her by his new power and, lastly, the priest Oroe, who has knowledge of a fact which would make such a union frightful.
Arsaces pleads that another be chosen since " the throne is not the glittering prize" he asks; Assur in a passion of rage makes many dark allusions but the Queen would sweep all obstacles aside and orders that the marriage at once take place. A hollow sound is heard from the tomb of Ninus and the shade of the murdered king comes forth to say, Arsaces, thou shalt reign; But crimes there are must first avenged be. With courage into my tomb descend.
There to my ashes a victim thou shalt offer.
There is general consternation and the Queen flings herself into the arms of Azema.
Arsaces follows the ghost of Ninus into his gloomy abode and learns that Ninius, his son, long since reported dead, is in reality alive. In consequence, Arsaces remon strates with the priests who are to invest him with the insignia of royal office but his arguments are silenced by Oroe, who informs him that he is the lost Ninius and thus the rightful heir to the throne. He also tells him of the crime of Semiramis and Assur and, handing him his father's sword, bids him avenge his wrongs.
This he is willing to do in the case of Assur but his heart recoils from punishing his mother, who, still ignorant of their relations, continues to shower her now disgusting attentions upon him. Her punishment begins when Arsaces draws from his robes and places in her hands a document written by the dying king, in which he discloses the crime of Semiramis and her accomplice. This, coming with the knowledge that Arsaces is her own son, fills her with horror and remorse. The young man assures her of his forgive ness and goes forth with his father's sword to avenge him, pursuing Assur into the recesses of the tomb itself. The Queen follows unobserved and, when he is about to stab Assur in the darkness, she passes between them and receives the weapon in her heart. Her son is on the point of stab bing himself when he is prevented by Oroe and Assur is seized by the guards and dragged away to death.